Ministers from Mekong member countries met in Vientiane on Apr 4 to discuss preparations for the 4th Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit and related meetings scheduled for Apr 5. The meeting was also attended by researchers, experts from the region and other parts of the world. “This ministerial meeting will review achievements made by Mekong River Commission since the adoption of Siem Reap Declaration in 2018 and present the results of the 4th MRC International Conference we have just held which was attended by several hundreds of experts from around the world to brainstorm ideas, innovative mechanisms and cooperation that can ensure secure and sustainable Mekong in the future,” said Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bounkham Vorachit, who is also Member of MRC Council for the Lao PDR.
(KPL) Ministers from Mekong member countries met in Vientiane on Apr 4 to discuss preparations for the 4th Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit and related meetings scheduled for Apr 5.
The meeting was also attended by researchers, experts from the region and other parts of the world.
“This ministerial meeting will review achievements made by Mekong River Commission since the adoption of Siem Reap Declaration in 2018 and present the results of the 4th MRC International Conference we have just held which was attended by several hundreds of experts from around the world to brainstorm ideas, innovative mechanisms and cooperation that can ensure secure and sustainable Mekong in the future,” said Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bounkham Vorachit, who is also Member of MRC Council for the Lao PDR.
The minister noted that over the past 28 years, MRC has made major achievements including the adoption of a common vision for economic prosperity, just society, and healthy and resilient environment in the Mekong region, adding that such achievements resulted from collective efforts and cooperation built on mutual trust from all member countries.
4th MRC Summit is expected to provide the government leaders of MRC member countries the opportunity to reaffirm their top political commitment to cooperation in the Mekong region, the role of MRC and just and sustainable development of water and related resources in the Mekong region.
The Mekong River is one of the world’s great rivers. Covering a distance of nearly 5,000 km from its source on the Tibetan Plateau in China to the Mekong Delta, the river flows through six countries: China, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia and Viet Nam.
The basin is home to one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world, with more than 20,000 plant species and 850 fish species discovered to date. An estimated 80% of the nearly 65 million people living in the Lower Mekong River Basin depend on the river and its rich natural resources for their livelihoods, making sustainable development crucial for the environment and communities living in the basin
Source: Lao News Agency